Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-13
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON ten.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, NAY Is, 1857
Olympia as a Terminal Point.

Olympia as Terminal Point.
A writer who signs himself zone
Who Knows" in the Oregon State
Journal, and has travelled extensively
on the northern coast, takes very
comprehensive view of the railroad sit
uation at this time and prospective de-
velOpments in the near future. In re-
ferring to the remarkable activity of
railroad construction and the CONVEX
gence of important lines towards the
northwest seaboard, he considers the
question of outlet to deep water COM
merce as matter of far greater i'm
portance to the rival companies than
to the communities benefited or the
country traversed. A multiplicity of
routes will cause farmers, stOck-raisers
and manufacturers to exert themselves
in production, the inevitable result of
which will be, as facilities for trans
portation increase, to cheaper rates,
and render probable the largest possible
yield. This will tax the energies of
rival lines and bring into competitive
importance the advantages which each
possesses. These are mainly embraced
in the directness of route between
centers of trade, the value of tributary
country and the eligibility of the point
where transhipment is made of the
immense supplies for foreign trade.
The correspondent says: While
the Northern Pacific has it's terminus
on Puget Sound, its advantage to Ore
gon is probably as great, at present, as
if it stopped at Portland. Possibly
both the Union Pacific and the South
ern Pacific may seek the same outlet
yet one of them is quite likely to 60 to
Astoria, for its deep-sea connection.
Certain it is, these great national arter-
iesuwill not want to breathe through
the same outlet, neither will they,
when practicable to avoid it, parallel
each others road. Puget Sound is
long, and there are many eligible sites
for railroad termini. The Northern
Pacific terminates at Tacoma, and will
soon have its Cascade division in rum
ming trim. Seattle has its Lake Shore
and Eastern road started, and expects
to have connection before a long time
with the St. Paul and Montana system
and also feeder to the Canadian Pa
cifc, which will make Seattle rail-
road center of no mean proportions
Olympia at the head of ship naviga-
ton ON the Sound, is now bestirring
itself to secure the terminus of either
the Union Pacific or the Southern sys-
tenn, and it has advantages that wise
railroad men will not be slow to see.
1t can be reached by SO miles shorter
line than any other feasible point. Its
harbor is as easily accessible to deep
water ships as any other harbor, and is
absolutely land-locked and safe. By
crossing the Columbia at or near Van
couver, q road would secure the trade
of the Columbia valley through Clarke
and Cowlitz counties, then strike
across for Chehalis county, take in the
end Of Grand Mound prairie in Thurs
ton county, and thence to Olympia,
would pass through much more fer
tile region than the Northern Pacific
has, and it could run feeder down
the Lower Chehalis, Is miles shorter
than any other ine."
1t seems almost impossible, in this
scramble for position, that the advan-
tages possessed by Olympia will be
overlooked. They are admitted by all
who are familiar with the conditions
which usually influence the choice Of
location on trunk lines. Budd's Inlet
was the first choice of the Northern
Pacific, and was the objective point
indicated by all engineers locating a
northern transcontinental route, until
the greed Of monopolists diverted the
road from its. proper course, and has
ever since managed to overshadow
the direct route by combination OF
moneyed interests. Such a policy can
exist only as long as the abnormal
conditions sustaining it are in active
play, and will yield just as surely az
relaxation follows excessive tension OF
natural forces.
STRANDED.-The Seattle correspon-
dent of the Tacoma Ledger, in abiding
to Ex-Governor Squire, says that the
expose of the Portland News of the in
ner workings of the Chinese problem
in Seattle, which brought grist to the
Governors mill, caused General Can
field, the President of the Bellingham
Bay Railway and Navigation Company
to say: "This kills Squire's chances
for the United States Senatorship."
Garfield is an ex-State Senator and
realizes the value of political fact.
PAUL Shuttle, General Land Agent
Of the Northern Pacific Railroad, an
nounces that the Office of the Western
District, comprising the State of Ore
gon and the Territories of Washington
and Idaho, will be removed from Port
land to Tacoma, on the 18th proximo.